Music, in recent years, has taken a noticeable turn toward immediacy. In many cases, the art of the album has been compromised by that of virality, and consequently, the attention spans of listeners all over have decreased immensely. In this context — tragic as it may be, in some respects — longevity has become a rarity; as a result, on a more positive note, the fewer and further in between this virtue arrives, the more valuable and appreciated it truly is when executed thoroughly. Such is the case with Raveena and her debut album, Lucid.
Not until recently have I really begun to pay close attention to Raveena’s output, but in all honesty, it’s one of the most refreshing musical decisions I’ve made in quite some time. Raveena moves at her own pace, she reflects without any threat of urgency, and she’s honest with herself, making each and every new release from the budding star a soul-healing effort to remember and revisit.
These strengths and more are what fans receive on Lucid. Over the span of 12 songs, this project works through trauma with a thoughtful and heartful tint. Raveena embraces the company of her listeners and pushes toward self-acceptance using lofty vocals, decadent string sections, and deeply personal songwriting throughout the process — all of which communicate one of purest accounts of R&B and its emotional identity to date.
With this in mind, Lucid finds beauty and wisdom in struggle. Raveena continuously connects with herself and her audience on each song, and in doing so, she seems to find a sweet spot of introspection in which she can create passionately as possible. The yield of such authenticity and bravery is a project that translates heart and emotion to music with ease, turning 12 songs into a world of their own.
That said, over a 44-minute runtime, it’s easy to sit back and sink into the alluring sonics of Lucid, and if not anything else, the care and honesty that Raveena brought to this album are rewarded by longevity. In my eyes, Lucid is the kind of personal debut that we’ll find ourselves revisiting years down the line from now, but until then, all we can do is listen — listen not only to what Raveena says, but to the message of the music in both sound and feel. This project is a masterpiece, and the only way to fully soak in its impact is to lay down, throw on some headphones, and listen to this one all the way through without distraction.
As I’ve said before, Raveena is a star-in-the-making, and Lucid as a whole is sure to attest. In the internet-ruled world of 2019, this is the music that will withstand the test of the time.